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There are so many ways to get into the holiday spirit. For some, it’s all about listening to Christmas songs on repeat. Others might prefer to curl up with a Hallmark movie (in matching family pajamas, of course) or take a drive around the neighborhood to marvel at the Christmas lights. No matter what your tradition, there’s nothing like festive holiday decor to really get you into the mood—and for most that starts with a special family Christmas tradition: tree decorating.
Whether you gravitate toward over-the-top opulence—like something a professional might design for a restaurant—or prefer a more rustic farmhouse vibe that transforms your own home into a winter wonderland (think: flocked trees), creating a statement-making tree is key to jumpstarting the cheer and spreading it all season long.
But before you pick your fir, browse through these elegant Christmas tree decorating ideas for inspiration. From the trendy blue and silver ornaments that are popular for 2022, to traditional red and green multicolor lights, and modern, glitzy rose gold ribbons, there’s a unique Pinterest-worthy idea (and photo) here for everyone—even your unicorn-loving toddler.
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For a sophisticated Farmhouse-style tree Chip and Jo would be proud of, pair natural elements like pinecones and flocked branches with burlap and oversized white ornaments.
Get the tutorial at Love Grows Wild.
For a truly personal and unique touch, DIY silhouettes of your family members—pets included!—and place them into framed ornaments.
Get the tutorial at Home Made Lovely.
Trim a flocked tree with colorful ornaments, then tuck unexpected greenery—like eucalyptus leaves—into branches for a whimsical, yet elegant look.
Get the tutorial at Keys to Inspiration.
Embrace the saying “less is more”—pick up a fluffy evergreen, then wrap it in a soft, white tree skirt and decorate the branches with a simple wooden garland and white polymer clay ornaments.
Get the tutorial at The Merry Thought.
For a sweet treat, decorate this year’s tree with an array of food-inspired ornaments. Bonus points for DIYing a doughnut-inspired tree skirt.
Get the tutorial at The Paper Mama.
Create a unique textured tree with gold ornaments, faux magnolia, whimsical bird cage ornaments, and a black and white garland.
Get the tutorial at Craftberrybush.
This unique Christmas tree decorating idea looks surprisingly elegant—especially if you stick to a neutral color palette.
Get the tutorial at Aww Sam.
Winter Wonderland Glam
Dreaming of a white Christmas? Fill your fir with snow branches, gold and cream ribbon, gold and white flowers, and plenty of seasonal bling.
Get the tutorial at Design Dazzle.
For a look that’s straight out of your favorite ski town, opt for neutral white ornaments, natural elements like pinecones, and a bold red buffalo check ribbon garland.
Get the tutorial at A Pumpkin and a Princess.
Buck tradition with a snow white tree wrapped in an array of beautiful blooms more reminiscent of spring than winter.
Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.
Who ever said your tree has to look like everyone else’s? For a low-effort decorating idea, bring a nice big tree branch to life with a few festive ornaments.
Get the tutorial at The Merry Thought.
For something a little more muted than the traditional red and green holiday palette, skip the red. Instead, pair plenty of white baubles with additional decor in soft shades of green.
Get the tutorial at A Pumpkin and a Princess.
Pink Florals and Gold Metallics
For a tree with plenty of shimmer and shine, fill branches with gold metallic accents, like ornaments and ribbon. Then, for the finishing touch, tuck in a few fresh flowers.
Get the tutorial at Design Dazzle.
Don’t cramp a small space with a monstrous fir—you can pull off a similarly festive vibe with a simple potted tree wrapped in craft paper, trimmed with wooden accents, and assembled in a sweet vignette.
Get the tutorial at The Merry Thought.
Here’s a fun Christmas tradition to start this year: Craft mini trees for each of your children’s bedrooms to infuse their space with holiday spirit filled with personality.
Get the tutorial at Dream a Little Bigger.
Though not your typical holiday color scheme, this muted tree fits right in amongst all of your favorite trimmings.
Get the tutorial at Sugar & Cloth.
If your goal is to go truly out-of-the-box this year, swap the traditional evergreen for a bright and cheerful cascade of sunflowers wrapped in a black-and-white plaid ribbon.
Get the tutorial at Dream a Little Bigger.
It doesn’t get more unique than this: An artificial white tree with contrasting baubles in a bold purple and a punny DIY typographic garland.
Get the tutorial at The Paper Mama.
Another minimalistic idea with big pay-off that’s perfectly suited for small spaces. Simply dry orange slices and string them from evergreen branches propped in an amber vase.
Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.
If you’re the more is more type, you’ll love this professionally-decorated tree. Each and every branch is filled with festive red and white accents.
Get the tutorial at Design Dazzle.
Infuse your holiday with a touch of whimsy by assembling a tree made completely of pastel-colored balloons.
Get the tutorial at Sugar & Cloth.
Regardless what color ornaments you choose, this is an easy decorating idea with big payoff.
Get the tutorial at Lovely Indeed.
A sparse, slim Charlie Brown-type tree doesn’t look quite so bare when covered in silver tinsel and colorful ornaments.
Get the tutorial at Aww Sam.
Create a magical indoor winter wonderland by liberally placing tufts of fluffy poly-fil fiber throughout the entire tree.
Get the tutorial at Craftberrybush.
Glittery Green and Gold
Shades of green and gold shine bright against a white tree. The look strikes a lovely balance between modern and traditional holiday decor.
Get the tutorial at Inspired By Charm.
Such a fun holiday idea for a little one’s room. (The ornaments are attached with Velcro so you can move them around!)
Get the tutorial at Studio DIY.
Light-Up Marquee Letters
Make your Christmas extra bright this year by adding light-up marquee letters to your tree. You can spell out something simple like “joy” or “cheer” or decorate with the first letter of your last name—just choose letters in varying sizes.
Get the tutorial at Lia Griffith.
All Vintage Everything
How can you not feel happy looking at this tree? A mix of vintage ornaments feel especially right when paired with a metallic tinsel tree.
Get the tutorial at Inspired By Charm.
Fluffy white feathers lend softness and visual interest to an otherwise classically decorated tree. (We also love that they sort of mimic snow!)
Get the tutorial at Jeweled Interiors.
Swap out traditional yellow gold in favor of rosy metallic accents for a sweet and modern vibe. (And don’t forget to coordinate your gift wrap to match!)
Get the tutorial at Parties for Pennies.
The best part of this cute macrame DIY from the taleneted Lia Griffith? The shelves make it easy to change up the look. Keep it simple with candles and greenery as she did here or pepper in glittery accents for added drama.
Get the tutorial at Lia Griffith.
Sometimes, more is more—and this stunning tree proves it. You can hardly even see the tree’s branches thanks to a generous mix of silver, bronze, and green ornaments and wooden accents.
Get the tutorial at A Pumpkin and a Princess.
Woodsy Winter Wonderland
Channel winter wonderland vibes wherever you are with a flocked pencil tree adorned with cute wooden ornaments and rustic accents. (And glitter. Don’t forget the glitter.)
Get the tutorial at Inspired By Charm.
How fun is this chalkboard-inspired tree from the Crafted Sparrow? We love the pops of turquoise and how the overall look pairs with her light grey walls.
Get the tutorial at Crafted Sparrow.
Greatest Tree in the Galaxy
Christmas trees don’t have to be all glitter and gold. The Star Wars mega fan in your life will be delighted by this DIY tree inspired by the beloved film franchise.
Get the tutorial at Jennifer Perkins.
Trimmed in vintage bottle brush trees and Putz houses, this darling tree packs a nostalgic punch. A white tree is a must for pulling off the look (the decorations just wouldn’t pop as much against green.)
Get the tutorial at Lolly Jane.
This tree couldn’t be more fun with its candy colored- palette, treat-inspired trimmings, and gummy bear “star.”
Get the tutorial at Lines Across.
Go for the gold this Christmas with a monochromatic metallic theme. It’ll work with any interior style, from minimal to traditional and everything in between.
Get the tutorial at Sugar and Charm.
Woodsy trimmings, like pine cones, acorns, and a snowy garland pair with pops of red to set a whimsical winter wonderland scene.
Get the tutorial at Maison de Pax.
Blue and white is always a good idea—even at Christmas! Anyone can pull of the look, but the non-traditional palette works especially well with coastal-inspired decor.
Get the tutorial at Making Home Base.
Put memories of Christmas’ past to work by printing favorite photos in black and white and using them to trim your tree.
Get the tutorial at Bless ‘Er House.
Black isn’t a hue you see often in holiday decorating, but we love the way this buffalo check garland ups the cozy factor of this otherwise traditionally decorated tree.
Get the tutorial at Wood Grain Cottage.
Woodland Creature Tree
A moose-printed garland, tree stump tree stand, and cute forest critters make for a woodsy display perfect for the nature lover.
Get the tutorial at Decor Asylum.
Have a green artificial tree that’s seen better days? Give it the DIY flocked treatment like April from the blog House By Hoff did to create this coastal-inspired tree.
Get the tutorial at House By Hoff.
This snow-covered tree brings a bit of childhood whimsy thanks to a selection of plush trimmings, twinkle lights, and a chunky yarn garland.
Get the tutorial at Nesting With Grace.
This colorful tree makes a strong statement but actually couldn’t be easier to put together. Simply buy or make pom-poms in a mix of sizes and attach them to your tree. Lights are optional.
Get the tutorial at Sugar & Cloth.
Add midcentury appeal to your home this Christmas by decking out your tree in an assortment of vintage Shiny Brite ornaments. These happy-hued collectibles will never steer you wrong.
Get the tutorial at House By Hoff.
A mix of navy blue ornaments pop against a metallic backdrop. Blogger Tamara Anka even goes so far as to match her living room decor to her tree decorations.
Get the tutorial at Citrine Living.
If you prefer more of a quiet, clean aesthetic, a Scandanavian-inspired tree might be the holiday look for you. To pull it off, opt for a sparse, natural-looking tree and outfit it minimally in lights and ornaments.
Get the tutorial at Danielle Witte.
Red, White, and Blue Tree
What’s sweeter than a tree decked out in all things ice cream? (We especially love this idea for a kid’s room!)
Get the tutorial at Melodrama.
Laurren Welch is a freelance editor, writer, and creative who covers lifestyle, interiors, entertaining, fashion, and more.
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